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เซ่นไหว้ผี [ เซ่น ไว่ ผี ]

sâyn wâi pĕe

This is an approximate indication of how common a word is in Thai.

[ Verb ]

[to] offer sacrifice to the spirits

Components

[to] make offerings or sacrifi

เซ่นไหว้
sâyn wâi

ghost ; spirit

ผี
pĕe

[to] make offerings

เซ่น
sâyn

[to] wai (The 'wai' is a prayer like gesture which is perfomed with a slight bow. It's widely used in Thailand as a standard greeting, and also when apologising, saying thanks and to show respect. Thai people frequently wai towards a Buddha image when passing by one, sometimes even while driving! If there's a perceived difference in status between two people perfoming the wai, then it is usually the junior or 'lower status' person who will wai first. For instance, a student will wai the teacher first, and not the other way around. The more senior will then usually 'wai' back (รับไหว้), although this is unnecessary in certain situations such as being 'wai-ed' to by children or cashiers. The higher the hands are raised and the deeper the bow, the greater the respect being shown to the recipient of the 'wai'. A กราบ is a step up from the wai and is used when worshipping and showing reverence, predominately to Buddha images or the Royal family.)

ไหว้
wâi

Did You Know ?

Counting high numbers in Thai
Counting in Thai is relatively straightforward, and by memorising only 17 words you can count into the millions. Due to the frequent need to haggle prices in Thailand, knowing the numbers and being able to count comes in very useful. The numbers 1-10 form the basis of all the others. For the numbers greater than 19, the multiple of ten is placed before สิบ sip at the start of the number. For instance, 30 is saam sip which if translated literally is just "three ten". Numbers in the twenties are an exception though, as 20 is yee sip not song sip.
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